Tag Archives: Claire McCaskill

the Senate CONGRESS 11/20 the House

11/20/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour for debate only with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the second half.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1197, the National Defense Authorization Act. There will be up to 6 hours for debate only on the issue of sexual assault with the time divided as follows:

Senator Gillibrand, or her designee controlling three hours;
Senators McCaskill and Ayotte, or their designees, each controlling 75 minutes;
Ranking Member Inhofe, or his designee, controlling 20 minutes; and
Chairman Levin, or his designee, controlling 10 minutes.

We hope to reach an agreement to vote on the sexual assault-related amendments during Wednesday’s session.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent to vote on the Gillibrand (SA #2099) and McCaskill-Ayotte (SA #2170) sexual assault amendments at 5:30pm tonight.

Senator Inhofe asked to modify the request that following disposition of the McCaskill/Ayotte amendment #2170, all pending amendments be withdrawn and the Republican manager or his designee be recognized to offer the next amendment in order to be followed by an amendment offered by the Majority side and the two sides continue to offer amendments in alternating fashion until all amendments are disposed of.

Senator Reid did not agree to the modification.

Senator Coburn then objected to the original Reid request.

The Senate is in a period of morning business for debate only until 7:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. Roll call votes are unlikely tonight. Senator Reid will be recognized at 7:30pm.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.304, Recognizing the 30^th Anniversary of the date of the restoration by the Federal Government of Federal recognition to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, November 22, 1983.

Adopted S.Res.305, Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States.

Adopted S.Res.306, designating Thursday, November 21, 2013, as “Feed America Day”.

Adopted S.Res.307, a resolution permitting the collection of clothing, toys, food, and housewares during the holiday season for charitable purposes in Senate buildings.

Adopted S.Res.308, Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1752, the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013. (Gillibrand)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1737, the Minimum Wage Fairness Act. (Harkin)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Senator Reid filed cloture on S.1197, National Defense Authorization Act. The filing deadline for germane first degree amendments is 1:00pm, Thursday, November 21.

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Last Floor Action:
7:08:25 P.M. – The House adjourned. The
next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on November 20, 2013.

10:00:34 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:42 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Thomas Massie to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:07 A.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
11:08:26 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:49 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of November 20.
12:00:55 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Paul Taylor, St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
12:02:53 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:57 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Tsongas to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:13 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
12:38:08 P.M.	H. Res. 420	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 420 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1900) to provide for the timely consideration of all licenses, permits, and approvals required under Federal law with respect to the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas pipeline projects, and for other purposes.”
12:41:28 P.M.	H. Res. 420	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 420.
1:46:20 P.M.	H. Res. 420	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 592).
1:53:41 P.M.	H. Res. 420	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: (Roll no. 593).
1:53:42 P.M.	H. Res. 420	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:54:11 P.M.	H.R. 1965	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1965 — “To streamline and ensure onshore energy permitting, provide for onshore leasing certainty, and give certainty to oil shale development for American energy security, economic development, and job creation, and for other purposes.”
1:54:52 P.M.	H.R. 1965	The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
2:00:23 P.M.	H.R. 1965	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 594).
2:04:17 P.M.	H.R. 1965	On agreeing to the Lowenthal amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 595).
2:08:09 P.M.	H.R. 1965	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 596).
2:12:45 P.M.	H.R. 1965	On agreeing to the Polis amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 597).
2:17:23 P.M.	H.R. 1965	On agreeing to the DeFazio amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 598).
2:17:29 P.M.	H.R. 1965	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1965.
2:18:13 P.M.	H.R. 1965	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2:18:23 P.M.	H.R. 1965	The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
2:18:38 P.M.	H.R. 1965	On agreeing to the Rules amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
2:19:31 P.M.	H.R. 1965	Mrs. Kirkpatrick moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources.
2:20:47 P.M.	H.R. 1965	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kirkpatrick motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House forthwith with an amendment to insert language clarifying tax provisions applicable to defined major integrated oil companies. The amendment would also add a new section to the bill prohibiting the legislation from requiring the Secretary of the Interior to allow energy development that would negatively impact land that is identified by the Secretary, in consultation with affected Indian tribes, as a Native American sacred site or cultural site.
2:25:34 P.M.	H.R. 1965	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
2:34:08 P.M.	H.R. 1965	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 599).
2:43:15 P.M.	H.R. 1965	On passage Passed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 600).
2:43:16 P.M.	H.R. 1965	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:43:33 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on November 20, 2013 at 11:51 a.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 3304 with amendments and passed S. 381.
2:43:59 P.M.	H.R. 2728	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 419. H.R. 2728 — “To recognize States’ authority to regulate oil and gas operations and promote American energy security, development, and job creation.”
2:44:04 P.M.	H.R. 2728	The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1965 and H.R. 2728. The resolution provides for one hour of debate and makes in order only those further amendments printed in the Rules report 113-271. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
2:44:13 P.M.	H.R. 2728	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 419 and Rule XVIII.
2:44:14 P.M.	H.R. 2728	The Speaker designated the Honorable Kevin Yoder to act as Chairman of the Committee.
2:44:41 P.M.	H.R. 2728	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2728.

3:54:28 P.M.	H.R. 2728	An amendment, offered by Mr. Holt, numbered 1 printed in Part B of House Report 113-271 to allow the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas drilling operations on public lands.
3:54:30 P.M.	H.R. 2728	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 419, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holt Part B amendment No. 1.
4:03:23 P.M.	H.R. 2728	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Holt Part B amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Holt demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
4:03:51 P.M.	H.R. 2728	An amendment, offered by Mr. Flores, numbered 2 printed in Part B of House Report 113-271 to require states to submit a copy of their hydraulic fracturing regulations and chemical disclosure requirements to the BLM for public disclosure and provide other technical/clarifying changes.
4:03:55 P.M.	H.R. 2728	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 419, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flores Part B amendment No. 2.
4:10:58 P.M.	H.R. 2728	On agreeing to the Flores amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:11:28 P.M.	H.R. 2728	An amendment, offered by Mr. Reed, numbered 3 printed in Part B of House Report 113-271 to direct the GAO to conduct a study on the economic benefits of domestic oil and gas production as result of hydraulic fracturing including job creation, energy prices and State and Federal revenues.
4:11:30 P.M.	H.R. 2728	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 419, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Reed Part B amendment No. 3.
4:12:00 P.M.	H.R. 2728	Reed amendment; modified by unanimous consent.
4:17:25 P.M.	H.R. 2728	On agreeing to the Reed amendment; as modified Agreed to by voice vote.
4:17:52 P.M.	H.R. 2728	An amendment, offered by Mr. DeFazio, numbered 4 printed in Part B of House Report 113-271 to prohibit the export of natural gas produced from public lands.
4:17:54 P.M.	H.R. 2728	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 419, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeFazio Part B amendment No. 4.
4:29:15 P.M.	H.R. 2728	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the DeFazio Part B amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. DeFazio demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
4:29:50 P.M.	H.R. 2728	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 5 printed in Part B of House Report 113-271 to instruct the Secretary to conduct an annual review of any and all state hydraulic fracturing activity and submit a report to Congress.
4:29:52 P.M.	H.R. 2728	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 419, the Committee of Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) Part B amendment No. 5.
4:34:25 P.M.	H.R. 2728	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
4:34:41 P.M.	H.R. 2728	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
4:35:50 P.M.	H.R. 2728	On agreeing to the Holt amendment (A002) Roll Call 601 – Recorded vote pending.

5:04:03 P.M.	H.R. 2728	On agreeing to the Holt amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 190 – 230 (Roll no. 601).
5:05:40 P.M.	H.R. 2728	MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in remembrance of our brave men and women who have given their lives in the service of our country, and of all who serve in our armed forces and their familes.
5:12:29 P.M.	H.R. 2728	On agreeing to the DeFazio amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 142 – 276 (Roll no. 602).
5:13:02 P.M.	H.R. 2728	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2728.
5:13:17 P.M.	H.R. 2728	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
5:13:36 P.M.	H.R. 2728	The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
5:14:18 P.M.	H.R. 2728	Mr. Lowenthal moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources.
5:15:35 P.M.	H.R. 2728	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lowenthal motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House forthwith with an amendment to ensure that the underlying bill does not limit the authority of the Department of Interior or any state to require the public disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing.
5:30:09 P.M.	H.R. 2728	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 188 – 232 (Roll no. 603).
5:41:19 P.M.	H.R. 2728	On passage Passed by recorded vote: 235 – 187 (Roll no. 604).
5:41:21 P.M.	H.R. 2728	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:41:31 P.M.		Mr. LaMalfa asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9:00 a.m. on November 21. Agreed to without objection.
5:42:49 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
5:49:24 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

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launch

05/06/2013 Nativegrl77

I just left the official launch of our Off the Sidelines campaign. I am amazed by how far this movement has come – and excited about how far it can go.

As much as we have accomplished together, I know we can achieve so much more.

Thank you for all you do,

Kirsten

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868,000 New Jobs … repost

10/01/2012 Nativegrl77

Obama is in the Green on Job Creation

September Reports brought some unexpected good news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the government agency that tracks all things jobs-related. During a scheduled review of its data, it determined that the economy had added hundreds of thousands more jobs than previously thought.

While getting overly fixated on individual jobs reports is unwise, this finding carries a special significance. This means that President Obama has now replaced all of the jobs lost early in his presidency — 800,000 jobs a month were being lost when he came into office — and is now in overall positive job creation territory. His leadership and policies have created a total of 868,000 new private sector jobs, which makes for 125,000 net new jobs once the loss of state and local government jobs killed by the Republican austerity is figured in.

ThinkProgress’ Pat Garafalo explains:

According to new revisions released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy created 386,000 more jobs between March 2011 and March 2012 than shown by previous estimates. As economist Justin Wolfers noted, this means that President Obama is now net positive for job creation over his term in office, even taking into account the massive losses in January 2009:

The BLS benchmark revisions means that there has been a net jobs gain since Jan ’09. Romney can no longer talk about job losses under Obama.

— Justin Wolfers (@justinwolfers) September 27, 2012

BLS Benchmark revisions mean that over the year to March 2012, the economy was adding 194k jobs per month, not 162k as previously thought.

— Justin Wolfers (@justinwolfers) September 27, 2012

The Economist’s Greg Ip noted that the revisions mean that Obama’s net job creation number is now 125,000:

Incorporating today’s BLS revision, net payroll growth over Obama’s term would move from -261K to +125K.

— Greg Ip (@greg_ip) September 27, 2012

The new numbers — which are based off of unemployment insurance reports that employers submit to the federal government — show that 453,000 more private sector jobs were created than shown by previous estimates, meaning Obama’s net private sector job creation total is now 868,000. Government jobs, meanwhile, shrank by an additional 67,000.

It’s also worth noting that Obama has already produced more new private sector jobs than his predecessor, George W. Bush. Bush ended both his first and second terms in the hole in terms of private sector job creation. Only significant increases in government employment allowed him to eek out a small overall net gain by the end of his two terms in office.

BOTTOM LINE: Ahead of next week’s critical first presidential debate, today’s news deprives Mitt Romney of one of his most frequently used talking points: that Obama has created no new jobs. While that talking point was always highly misleading at best, it is now a lie by any measure.

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FYI Republicans : Rape is Rape

09/27/2012 Nativegrl77

Legitimate Rape Is Back

| By ThinkProgress War Room

Republicans Signal New Support for Disgraced Candidate

When Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) made his infamous observation that “legitimate rape” rarely produces pregnancy because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” his fellow Republicans couldn’t run away fast enough. One after another they denounced Akin — despite the fact that many of them shared his sentiments on the issue if not his extremely poor choice of words. In fact, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan even teamed up with Akin and other House Republicans in an ill-fated effort to redefine rape. Ryan also worked with Akin on a “personhood” measure that would outlaw abortion in all circumstances and ban common forms of birth control and in vitro fertilization.

The most immediate impact of the Republican effort to distance themselves from Akin (and to try to force him to quit the race) came in the form of declarations from GOP outside spending groups that they would abandon Akin’s campaign and pull their money out of Missouri. For the most part, these groups have kept their word and Sen. Claire McCaskill has surged ahead in the polls.

Now things have changed.

Yesterday was the last day that Akin could pull out of the race and, as promised, he did not do so. So with their chances of taking the Senate looking more and more unlikely by the day, it appears Republicans don’t think Akin and his outrageously offensive comments are so bad after all.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the official campaign arm of Senate Republicans, opened the door to getting back into the race on Akin’s behalf:

“There is no question that for Missourians who believe we need to stop the reckless Washington spending, rein-in the role of government in people’s lives, and finally focus on growing jobs in this country, that Todd Akin is a far more preferable candidate than liberal Sen. Claire McCaskill,” NRSC executive director Rob Jesmer said. “As with every Republican Senate candidate, we hope Todd Akin wins in November, and we will continue to monitor this race closely in the days ahead.”

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), who had earlier called on Akin to quit the race, also voiced his support for Akin:

Congressman Akin and I don’t agree on everything, but he and I agree the Senate majority must change. From Governor Romney to the county courthouse, I’ll be working for the Republican ticket in Missouri, and that includes Todd Akin.

Other prominent Republicans went even further. Former Republican presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are backing Akin. Gingrich even held a fundraiser for Akin earlier this week. Akin also received the backing of Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-SC) Senate Conservatives Fund, an influential, well-funded group that has backed the GOP’s most extreme Senate candidates over the past two election cycles.

BOTTOM LINE: The GOP’s apparent re-embrace of Todd Akin tells us what we knew all along: Republicans didn’t really object to Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape,” they just found them to be politically inconvenient. Despite their initial attempt to distance themselves from Akin, it appears that Republicans are going to have to take responsibility for his outrageous comments about women and their bodies.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed

Mitt Romney’s “them” problem.

Chief of the Cherokee Nation denounces Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA)’s staffers as “offensive and downright racist.”

After a decade in decline, manufacturing jobs are on the rebound under Obama.

President Obama is opening up big leads in key states.

Why Mitt Romney is losing in Ohio.

Chinese firm promoted its low-wage, low-tax liability to investors shortly before Mitt Romney invested in it.

Nuns take on Romney’s 47 % comment.

Romney’s tax rate: lower than any president since Nixon.

Robbing the middle to feed the rich.

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Fundraising … 2012 Gap

04/22/2012 Nativegrl77

DSCC Has Record Breaking Quarter Thanks to Strong Grassroots Support

The first three months of 2012 showed the incredible enthusiasm of Democratic supporters. The DSCC set a first quarter fundraising record by raising almost 20% more than our Republican counterparts.

You played a big role in our success; 97% of the gifts came from grassroots donors.

Thank you for your continuing support!

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Top Action

Critical Vote on Protecting Women Just Days Away

In what is just the latest in a series of Republican attacks on women, Senate Republicans are trying to eliminate the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

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Twice before, VAWA was reauthorized with widespread, bipartisan support from both houses of Congress. But now, Republicans have grown so radical they won’t even commit to protecting women from violence.

Join Democrats and demand Senate Republicans stop trying to eliminate VAWA!

Add your name »

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Enthusiasm Gap Felt in Senate Races Around the Country

The enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans is stretching to Senate races as well. According to Politico, “In the dozen most competitive contests across the country, Democrats once again collected more cash during the first three months of the year than Republicans, who are expected to wage an aggressive battle for the Senate majority.”

Among the strongest performers this quarter were Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Baldwin, Debbie Stabenow, and Claire McCaskill.